Solvent dispensing apparatus



Dec. 27, 1938. M J. B N 2,141,638

SOLVENT DISPENS ING APPARATUS Fil ed Sept. 50, 1937 fizz/enter W 7:36am

Patented Dec. 27, 19 38 UNITED STATES 2 Claims.

This invention relates to the introduction of a liquid or semi-liquid chemical solvent into the suction feed pipe of oil burning apparatus.

In the operation of such apparatus with the heavier fuel oils, it is found that heavy greases and other similar products accumulate undesirably in the apparatus and must be frequently removed. It has also been found that such accumulations may be largely avoided or may be go removed by the addition of a relatively small quantity of a chemical solvent to the fuel oil as it is fed to the oil burning apparatus, the solvent being added slowly and continuously over a considerable period of time.

It is the general object of my invention to provide improved apparatus for dispensing liquid or semi-liquid chemicalsolvent and for feeding the solvent slowly and continuously to oil burning apparatus.

A further object is to provide means for automatically closing the connection to the oil burning apparatus when the supply of solvent is substantially exhausted. I also provide novel and convenient means for quickly and easily connecting or disconnecting successive cans of solvent to said apparatus. 7

My invention further relates to arrangements and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

A preferred form of the invention is shown in the drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation, partly in section, showing a can of solvent having my improved dispensing apparatus mounted thereon;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevation, partly in section, showing certain parts appearing in Fig. l but in a different operative relation;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation, looking in the direction of the arrow 3 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan view, looking in the direction of the arrow 4 in Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a partial front elevation of a can before the regular cap has been removed to permit attachment of the dispensing apparatus.

Referring ,to the drawing, I have shown a stand Ill having an upright rod II on which a' can l2 may be removably mounted. The can I2 is provided with an axial sleeve l4 loosely fitting the rod H and permitting the can to be conveniently positioned thereon.

The can I2 is commonly provided with a top opening I5, surrounded by a threaded flange It on which a cap H is normally secured. After 55 the can has been mountedon the rod ll of the stand it, the cap H is removed and my dispensing apparatus is substituted therefor.

This apparatus preferably includes a fitting comprising a sleeve beveled externally at its lower end as indicated in Fig. 2 and a second sleeve 2! permanently assembled therewith. A tapered annular recess 22 is thus formed between the sleeves 25 and 2t, which recess is adapted to receive the upper end of the flange it when the fitting is forced. firmly thereon. The fitting is thereafter firmly supported on the can.

The dispensing fitting has a top plate 25 supporting a T 26 to which a solvent feed pipe 27 and a suction pipe 28 are secured. A coupling 29 is provided in the pipe 28, so that the dispensing fitting may be easily disconnected from the suction pipe 28 when desired, and a shut oiT valve St is also provided for the pipe 28. It will be understood that the pipe 28 is connected to the suction line of the associated oil burning apparatus.

The feed pipe 21 extends substantially to the bottom of the can l2 when the fitting is mounted thereon and is closed at its lower end by a plug 32 but is provided at one side with an inlet port 33.

A ball float 35 is provided with an axially extending sleeve 36 loosely slidable on the feed pipe 2'5, The ball float 35 is of such weight that it will fioat on the liquid solvent in the can l2 substantially as indicated in Fig. 1. When in its lowermost position, as indicated in Fig. 2, the sleeve 36 covers and closes the port 33 for a purpose to be described.

A hand-operated valve 40 is mounted onthe dispensing fitting and controls the flow of liquid from the feed pipe 2? to the suction pipe 28. The

- valve 46 may be set in a desired adjusted position and therate of flow of the solvent may thus be easily controlled. The valve is of any suitable commercial construction.

An indicator wire M is slidable in a sleeve mounted vertically in the cover plate 25'and extending above said plate. The lower end of the wire 64 is offset for engagement by the ball float 35. When the float is in raised position, the wire is projected upward through the sleeve 45. The wire thus gives visual indication of the position of the float and of the corresponding level of the solvent in the can, v

Having described the details of construction of my improved dispensing apparatus, the use and advantagesthereof will be readily understood. When a new can of solvent is to be fed to the oil burning apparatus, it is placed on the stand Ill,

the cap I! is removed and my dispensing fitting is applied by forcing the same downward over the upper end of the flange 6. The fitting is then connected by means of the coupling 29 to the suction pipe 28, and the valve 30 is opened. The valve is also adjusted, if necessary, to give the desired rate of flow.

The solvent is then fed slowly and automatically into the suction line of the oil burning apparatus until the liquid level in the can I2 is lowered to a point where the sleeve 36 of the float valve 35 closes the port 33. The wire 44 at the same time gives visual indication that the can is substantially emptied.

No harm is done if the oil burning apparatus continues to operate for a considerable period before the substantially emptied can is replaced by a full can. If the float 35 was not provided, however, it would be necessary for the operator to watch very closely for the emptying of the can, as otherwise the port 33 would be uncovered and would form a vent to break the suction in the oil burning apparatus. This would interrupt the fuel feed and render the apparatus inoperative. By the construction described, however, the port is automatically closed as the supply of liquid is exhausted, and breaking of the suction is avoided.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what I claim is:-

1. Solvent dispensing apparatus comprising a can having a threaded flange and a removable cap, a dispensing fitting having inner and outer sleeves with a recess between their lower edge portions which decreases upwardly in cross sections and which snugly receives said flange when forced thereon, said fitting having associated therewith a pipe extending downward within said can substantially, to the bottom thereof and provided with a side inlet port near its lower end, a suction pipe connected to said fitting, a manually adjustable valve in said fitting effective to control the flow of solvent from said can to said suction pipe, and a float valve surrounding said first pipe and having a central sleeve freely slidable thereon, said sleeve being effective to close said inlet port when said float is in lowered position. r

2. Solvent dispensing apparatus comprising a can having a relatively small filling opening in its upper end surrounded by 'a threaded flange adapted to detachably support a threaded cap, a dispensing fitting constructed to be substituted for said cap and to be removably mounted on said threaded flange, said fitting having associated therewith a pipe extending downward within said can substantially to the bottom thereof and provided with a side inlet port near its lower end, said fitting being also provided with a solvent-delivery pipe and said solvent being discharged through said delivery pipe by an excess in pneumatic pressure in said can over the pressure in said delivery pipe, and a hollow float valve surrounding said first pipe and having a central sleeve freely slidable thereon, said sleeve being directly efiective to cover and close said inlet port when said fioat is in lowered position, and said valve being small enough to pass through said flanged opening.

MELVIN J. BEAN. 

